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Just when you think the Neptunia series couldn’t have anymore gaming jokes and references to make, the CPU’s somehow come up with more. Compile Heart’s new entry into the Neptunia franchise, Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart, is outside of the Hyperdimension Neptunia main story-line and features CPU Black Heart Noire as a chibi protagonist in a turn based tactics game. The PC game hit the digital shelves yesterday on Steam, so here’s a preview of what’s in store.

Hyperdevotion Noire tries some new things for the Neptunia series. The gang’s all here for this installment in the series from the reigning CPUs to recurring villains. Story sections of the game are very reminiscent of other entries in the franchise. Gameplay, however, is where things diverge from the norm.

As a turn-based tactics game, obviously the basic mechanics are different from the RPGs Neptunia fans have come to love. This game does a great job of translating all the core elements from the series into a different style of the game. HDD mode, special moves, crafted items, and weapons with different attack ranges are all present in Hyperdevotion Noire, but they play a slightly different role in the new genre.

Some standard elements of the series have been transformed into something new for Hyperdevotion Noire. For example, elemental abilities have been boiled down to elemental charms that can be equipped to each party member. Lily ranks have also undergone some changes and are used to power up special moves. Special moves also get bonuses when executed while adjacent to other party members, with a super kawaii kiss on the cheek.

A pretty standard turn-based tactics game, success comes down to choosing each action your party members take in the most efficient order. Hyperdevotion spices up the genre by adding interesting objectives to your mission other than just “defeat your enemies before they defeat you.” Objectives like defusing bombs in a certain amount of time and/or avoiding traps on the battlefield test your tactical skills in different ways. Don’t let the chibi graphics fool you, the turn-based missions can be quite challenging.

When it comes to the story sections, fans of the series will feel right at home with the same visual novel cut scenes, anime style art, and excellent voice acting. Yet when it’s time to battle, the characters we know and love transform into adorable chibi versions of themselves. There are a lot of cute little touches included in the game that make it feel like more than just a Neptunia spin-off.

If Noire’s your goddess waifu, then this game is for you. The story includes a self-insert male protagonist who’s helping out the CPUs in their latest war with villain Arfoire. If you’re not a fan of turn-based tactics games, then the adorable humor of the Neptunia series probably won’t be enough to make you enjoy the gameplay. For those that like the Neptunia universe and turn-based tactics style games, then check out Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart available for PC now.

This game was provided by the developer and was played on PC.

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A tsundere lolita writing about games for the last three years. Somehow got involved in covering mobile games. Loves JRPG's and all genre's of gaming except for platform games. Platforming can go die in a fire.